COVID CARE NEIGHBOR NETWORK
Neighbors helping neighbors working together to overcome food insecurity, unemployment and financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 13, 2020
It all began at the shutdown (March 13th) with Nuala O’Doherty placing Post-it notes on the doors of our neighbors: “Please call me if you need any help.” Others were encouraged to do the same, and within a few days, requests for help with grocery shopping, medicine pick-up, and babysitting for parents began and COVID Care Neighbor Network (CCNN) was born.
125 Homes Per Week.
Within three weeks time, CCNN had set up a Facebook page, disseminated a Google phone number, and was delivering bags of donated food, baby formula, and diapers to about 125 homes per week. Meanwhile, a team of bilingual volunteers manned the phones seven days a week providing information on local food pantries, SNAP registration and help with funeral arrangements.
1000 Food Bags.
Twice a week, approximately 15 volunteers would meet at Nuala's garage in Jackson Heights to prepare the food bags, sending them out with ten drivers. As the number of requests for delivered food rose, the operation moved to The Queensboro Restaurant. By mid-June, CCNN had delivered more than 1,000 food bags to neighbors across Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Woodside.
Rent Relief.
In mid-July, New York State announced the COVID-19 Rent Relief Program and CCNN & Together We Can focused on assisting the financial situation of those in the community not eligible or entitled to receive government assistance. Seven bilingual volunteers helped 150 families overcome language and computer literacy issues when filling out their applications. Assistance continued during the appeals process and into the second round of the relief program in December. As of January 2021, 30% of the applications had been approved, with an average payment of $7,000.
NYC Green Clean.
Feedback from social workers following up with more than 1000 families identified a deep desire for those who lost work to resume employment, especially women who wanted to help their families financially. As a result, CCNN & Together We Can established the cleaning cooperative, NYC Green Clean. The cooperative is run by 29 women who have received OSHA training — included COVID-19 safety protocols — made possible through generous contributions from the community.
What’s Next.
CCNN’s Google number, WhatsApp chat and Facebook group continue to be utilized by those in need. Requests range from assistance with filling out application forms for SNAP, to bereavement relief, to payment plans with utility companies, to assistance with vaccine appointments and transportation, and much more. CCNN is also gearing up to help those who will need help with tenants rights and housing court. The WhatsApp chat group has become a true neighbor network as the more than 200 members post locations and times of pop-up food distribution, job postings, and clothes exchanges, to name just a few resources that are being continually shared.
VIDEO >
Covid Care Neighbor Network
Manos Que Dan is a La Jornada food pantry in Woodside, Queens, begun as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Watch Nuala O’Doherty take us through the tireless efforts of this team of volunteers, led by the amazing Luis Gaguancela, as they now serve more than 1,000 families each weekend.
Video produced by Vinson Valega.